• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Evolution results from natural selection acting upon genetic variation within a population.
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Natural selection and genetic drift act on the variation that exists in a population.
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Natural selection acts on phenotype as an expression of genotype.
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] New heritable traits can result from mutations.
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Inherited characteristics affect the likelihood of an organism's survival and reproduction.
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Over time, the proportion of individuals with advantageous traits may increase (and the proportion with disadvantageous traits may decrease) due to their chances of surviving and reproducing.
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Complex traits can arise through the cooption of another trait.
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Speciation requires reproductive isolation.
• [Mechanisms of evolution: Grades 13-16] Reproductive isolation can occur through mechanisms that prevent fertilization from occurring.

There are no NGSS/DCI concepts currently linked to this resource.

Occasionally, this lesson uses active/intentional language to describe evolutionary processes. Instructors should be sure to clarify the process as undirected and use this as a teachable opportunity. Also, instructors who want students to access video clips on their own directly may want to rewrite these links in the student materials so that they are in order as presented in the activity and link directly to the appropriate clip.

• Genetic Variation
• Speciation